Source: Northern_Echo
Corey is Quakers’ cola kid
TEENAGER Corey Barnes was named as the sponsors' man of the match on Saturday but he did not leave The Northern Echo Arena with a bottle of champagne after it was deemed he was too young to receive the customary prize.[LNB] In a break with tradition, the 17-year-old was instead awarded a bottle of Coca-Cola by the man of the match sponsor, Councillor Steve Galloway. The Sunderlandborn teenager played at rightback, despite ordinarily being a central midfielder, and had the tricky task of dealing with speedy Burton winger Jimmy Phillips.[LNB] But he helped ensure Quakers kept their first clean sheet of the season in the singlegoal win. It was the second time Quakers have handed out a soft drink to the man of the match as fellow teenager Curtis Main also deemed too young to receive champagne following a game last season.[LNB] However, despite Barnes' award, manager Steve Staunton says there was room for improvement in the youngster's display.[LNB] He said: Corey can play better than that. I said to him after the game, he was too one-dimensional, looking down the line all the time. He should have been looking into the midfield more to switch play.[LNB] He's learning and this is a great learning curve because he is a central midfielder playing at right-back and he's doing a wonderful job.[LNB] Barnes has replaced Paul Arnison one of several Colin Todd signings not to have made the bench, despite naming only six of the seven permitted.[LNB] Referring to the likes of Arnison, Matty Plummer and Mark Convery, Staunton added: It's down to them to show me on the training ground (they deserve a place).[LNB] I've got Arni but Corey has come in and done very well for me.[LNB] Meanwhile, Staunton dismissed suggestions that Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan was in attendance to watch Main.[LNB] Don't be jumping the gun, he said. Gordon was probably bored and wanting to see a game that wasn't too far away. I'll have a chat with him but I don't expect any bids for players.[LNB] Barnes and Main, both products of Quakers' youth set-up, were two of three teenagers in the side on Saturday.[LNB] The other was 18-yearold David Davis, on loan from Wolves, while Darlingtonborn midfielder Dan Groves, 19, came off the bench in the second half.[LNB] There was no place for on loan striker James Collins who instead played the Republic of Ireland under-21s in a European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Georgia.[LNB]
